Rishi Sunak 'confident' talks will resolve Northern Ireland Protocol issues

British Prime Minister makes announcement after first official meeting with Irish premier Micheal Martin

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak shakes hands with Ireland's Taoiseach Micheal Martin, during the British-Irish Council Summit in Blackpool, England, on Thursday. Reuters

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he is “confident” that negotiations will provide a solution to Northern Ireland Protocol issues.

“Good-will and pragmatism” would be needed but a way through should be found, Mr Sunak said.

He said he wanted a resolution to be found to allow the power-sharing institutions at Stormont to be restored.

Mr Sunak was speaking after his first official meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin at the British-Irish Council summit in Blackpool.

The first UK prime minister to attend the summit in 15 years, he described his meeting with Mr Martin as “very positive”.

The summit comes after Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris announced plans to extend a deadline for calling a Stormont election and to cut the pay of Assembly members, amid continuing political impasse.

“We need to find a practical resolution to some of the challenges that families and businesses are facing on the ground,” Mr Sunak said.

“We need to protect Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom.

“And that will require everyone to enter into these talks with a spirit of good-will and pragmatism.

“I’m confident if we can do that, working together, we can find a way through.”

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Mr Sunak described the protocol as “threatening” Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom, and said he wanted to “resolve” that.

“I’m deeply committed to the Belfast Good Friday Agreement,” he said.

“I want to see the institutions back up and running in Northern Ireland because that’s what the people in Northern Ireland need and deserve.

“I discussed this with the Taoiseach [Mr Martin]. We had a very positive meeting.

“And what I want to do is find a negotiated solution preferably, and I’m pleased with the progress that we’re making in these early days in this job.

"And my focus is to try and find a resolution here, get the institutions back up and running.

“That’s how we’re going to deliver for the people in Northern Ireland.”

Negotiations between the UK and EU aimed at securing changes to the protocol are continuing, with both sides talking up the prospect of a deal.

The loyalist Democratic Unionist Party has made clear it will not accept a return to power-sharing until the protocol’s economic barriers on trade between Britain and Northern Ireland are scrapped.